Participating in their first ever cricket tournament, APF hammered Region-VII (Janakpurdham) by nine wickets at the TU Stadium while NPC humbled Region-VIII (Pokhara) by 114 runs at the Pulchowk Engineering College grounds.

The result meant NPC lead Group ‘A’ with four points from two matches on better run rate than Region-III (Kathmandu) and Pokhara, who also have four points each but have played a game more. APF, who shared a point with Region-I (Biratnagar) in their previous match that ended in no-result, lie third in Group ‘A’ with three points from two games. Region-IV (Bhairahawa) and Janakpur have four points each in Group ‘B’ but both have played a game more than APF.

At the TU Stadium, Janakpur were restricted to 46 runs in 27.3 overs thanks to a fiery spell from left-arm spinner Shakti Gauchan. APF overcame the total for the loss of one wicket in 9.5 overs. Apart from opener Sobha Kant Pandey, who made a painstaking 16 from 67 balls, no other Janakpur batsmen were able to score in double figures.

Janakpur were in the backfoot from the beginning when the left-arm seamer Mehboob Alam dismissed Anil Kumar Mandal (naught) and Prahlad Sah (one) to make it 11-2 in seven overs. However it was Shakti, who demolished the Janakpur innings taking the next five wickets. Shakti finished with an enviable figures of 5-3 in eight overs which included six maidens. Mehboob returned with 2-10 from six overs and Prithu Baskota claimed 1-6.

In reply, APF openers Paresh Lohani (22) and Subhash Khakurel (18) virtually killed off the match with a stand of 40 runs. Paresh was the only batsman to be out with just seven runs required for victory.

Mahesh and Binod put on 86-run stand for the opening wicket. Binod was run out with one run short of half century. He struck six fours and two sixes in his 44-ball knock. Mahesh was next to go on 38 after hitting two fours and a six in his 52-ball innings.

Faizlur was also dismissed two runs short of his half century after stroking five fours and two sixes. Pusha Thapa chipped in 26-ball 24. Nischal Pandey took 5-53 while Dipesh Khatri, Amrit Shrestha, Pradeep Rawat and Dipen Lamgade took one wicket each for Pokhara.